The city originally estimated work on the rifle range to be completed by early January but after running into a safety issue, crews weren't able to start on site until Monday.

Nobody's heard the crack of gunfire at the Koko Head rifle range in more than a month. The city closed the range in early December, and hasn't opened it back up since. There's be an issue with air quality for the workers because of the lead from bullets but things are back on track now.

The rifle range was already due for renovation but after two reports of stray bullets landing in a residential area nearby, emergency improvements were necessary.

"They've got to look at safety first and they have to react to that which I think they've done in a pretty fast matter, not fast enough for some folks, I understand that, but for a government to respond that fast is pretty darn good," said Harvey Gerwig, President of the Hawaii Rifle Association.

The city will use sand from Kailua that has been sitting in huge mounds on the side of Lihiwai Road. It will be used as fill for the rifle ranges field area and the eroded backstop.

"They need to create a safe environment and that's what they're doing," said Gerwig.

But users of the city's only public rifle range have been left wondering when they can return.

"It's a hobby for many of us, it's also in preparation for hunting, you need to be able to verify your sights before you go hunting to be ethical," said Gerwig.An official reopening date for the rifle range has yet to be announced.

"What I would ask the people to do is to be patient, let the city do what needs to be done. They're saying now that they'll be open as soon as the end of this month, January and failing that early February," said Gerwig.

Signs have been posted up at the range saying the Koko Head Shooting Complex will be closed from January 13th through the 29th because of remediation work.

However, the city could reopen portions of the complex aside from the rifle range earlier depending on the contractors air quality tests.

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Maui. Taken Saturday night from Wailuku. Courtesy: Jake Smookler. Shut down! First it was the rifle range -- and now the entire Kokohead shooting complex. So when will gun enthusiasts be able to get back out on the field? That's the question they're asking as the city park remains closed for renovation. KITV4's Brenton Awa joins us now with the details -- ALL NEW at 6. Brenton... Paula -- Gun enthusiasts are asking that because the city originally estimated work on the rifle range to be completed by now... But after running into a safety issue -- crews weren't able to start on site until today. NATS "...gunshot." Nobody's heard the crack of gunfire at the Kokohead rifle range in more than a month... Here's why. The city closed the range in early December, and hasn't opened it back up since. There's be an issue with air quality for the workers because of the lead from bullets. Things are back on track now... NAT "backhoe noise." The rifle range was already due for renovation but after two reports of stray bullets landing in a residential area nearby -- emergency improvements were necessary. 1820 - 1832 "THEY'VE GOT TO LOOK AT SAFETY FIRST AND THEY HAVE TO REACT TO THAT WHICH I THINK THEY'VE DONE IN A PRETTY FAST MATTER, NOT FAST ENOUGH FOR SOME FOLKS, I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT FOR A GOVERNMENT TO RESPOND THAT FAST IS PRETTY DARN GOOD." Recognize this sand? It comes from Kailua.. Those huge mounds you've seen sitting on the side of the road. Now it's fill for this field area and the eroded backstop. 1515 "THEY NEED TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING." But users of the city's only public rifle range have been left wondering when they can return... ...with dozens of posts in an online blog. 1615 "IT'S A HOBBY FOR MANY OF US, ITS ALSO IN PREPARATION FOR HUNTING, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO VERIFY YOUR SIGHTS BEFORE YOU GO HUNTING TO BE ETHICAL." An official re-opening date for the rifle range has yet to be announced. 1626 "WHAT I WOULD AS THE PEOPLE TO DO IS TO BE PATIENT, LET THE CITY DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THEY'RE SAYING NOW THAT THEY'LL BE OPEN AS SOON AS THE OF THIS MONTH, JANUARY AND FAILING THAT EARLY FEBRUARY." Signs have been posted up at the range saying the entire Kokohead shooting complex will be closed from today through January 29th because of remediation work on the rifle range. However the city could re- open portions of the complex aside from the rifle range earlier -- depending on the contractors air quality tests.

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